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Turn off Apple Intelligence on macOS 27 and get its disk space back

574 points · 396 comments · privacyisntdead

  1. ryandrake · · focus · HN ↗
    Reminds me of all the de-crufting you've always needed to do when you install Windows. Looks like we've gotten to the point on macOS too, where you need to run third party scripts on a new OS installation to gain back control of your system resources and remove unwanted crapware.
    1. 2muchcoffeeman · · focus · HN ↗
      On windows you got garbage like trial versions of Blah software.

      This is a fully functioning feature that people don’t like for what ever reason.

      1. Grombobulous · · focus · HN ↗
        Automatically downloading AI models into disk space with no user-facing way to turn it off is especially hostile considering Apple as vendor of both the OS and the hardware is the same entity that overcharges for non-upgradable SSD storage in their machines.
        1. penskymaterial · · focus · HN ↗
          They'll rent you more iCloud space when you fill up the SSD. That's good, holistic customer service.
          1. stingraycharles · · focus · HN ↗
            That doesn’t work unless you’re actually able to offload stuff from disk, which is only the case when you store stuff in your iCloud Drive / photos / etc.

            Case in point: the AI models can’t be offloaded to iCloud.

            1. penskymaterial · · focus · HN ↗
              Maybe someone can explain why their SSDs, when not soldered down, are a proprietary form factor and can't be replaced with a standard M.2 device?
              1. stingraycharles · · focus · HN ↗
                I believe they have a special kind of SSD, where the controller is locked into the motherboard. This is serial locked in some form.

                (Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is how I understand it)

                1. odo1242 · · focus · HN ↗
                  It’s not actually serial locked, you can replace SSDs by desoldering and resoldering a NAND chip. But basically their SSD controller is integrated into the M-series chips (mostly because cheaper, less connectors to manufacture). But it’s a very specialized process
                  1. stingraycharles · · focus · HN ↗
                    I think most consumers would happily pay a bit extra for these controllers if it meant that they could manually upgrade their SSDs. I can’t help but have the feeling that it’s also quite convenient for Apple that all this stuff is effectively non-replaceable / upgradable.

                    I don’t think the benefits are the same as with their RAM being part of their SoC, as that gives them real speed improvements, right?

                    1. floydnoel · · focus · HN ↗
                      I disagree. I think 90% or more wouldn't care.
                      1. Barbing · · focus · HN ↗
                        Indeed,

                        > manually upgrade

                        or “average Apple customer”, pick one

                        btw something beautiful about the YouTube videos of shops in China doing those SSD deletes with the power tools

                      2. ascorbic · · focus · HN ↗
                        I'd be amazed if even 1% care
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